Prudent Development Research Articles

Data-Driven Sustainability: Leveraging Big Data and Machine Learning to Build a Greener Future

Environmental challenges like climate change and resource depletion necessitate sustainable solutions that balance present and future needs. Advanced information technologies offer immense potential for confronting these issues via data-driven intelligence. This paper explores frameworks harnessing big data and machine learning (ML) to promote ecological sustainability across contexts like energy, agriculture, conservation and resilience. First, we review existing literature establishing this domain as an emerging transdisciplinary field. Next, we propose an architectural pipeline encompassing: (i) multi-modal data acquisition from sensors, surveys and satellites; (ii) preprocessing via cleaning, integration and transformation; (iii) application of supervised algorithms for prediction and unsupervised techniques for pattern discovery tailored to sustainability objectives; (iv) cloud-based model operationalization. Through sample use cases on optimizing renewables forecasting, boosting efficiency of infrastructure systems and monitoring ecosystems, we demonstrate analytical versatility. However, challenges around bias, transparency and scale necessitate ethical governance. Nonetheless, prudent development of specialized ML solutions offers sociotechnical instruments for evidence-driven sustainability planning and impactful interventions promoting resilience and welfare globally. This research aims to advance computational sustainability by outlining conceptual foundations, architectures and directions for real-world deployments of artificial intelligence that align with ecological priorities for current and upcoming generations worldwide.

The Emission-Inequality Nexus: Empirical Evidence From a Wavelet-Based Quantile-on-Quantile Regression Approach

In order to identify the impact mechanism between income inequality and carbon emissions and clarify the nonlinear relationship between income inequality and carbon emissions in different degrees, so as to provide theoretical support for government departments to formulate policies of reducing carbon emission and optimizing resource allocation efficiency, we investigated the relationship between carbon emissions and domestic income inequality in the United States and France from 1915 to 2019 using wavelet decomposition and Quantile-on-Quantile regression. The results imply that 1) For France, the impact of income inequality on carbon emissions is negative when the income inequality is low. With the increase of income inequality, the impact of income inequality on carbon emission changes from negative to positive, and the increase of carbon emissions will amplify the effect. For United States, with the deepening of income inequality, its emission enhancing effect has been gradually reversed. In addition, the impacts of carbon emissions on income inequality in the two countries are quite similar. 2) In the short term, the relationship between income inequality and carbon emissions in the two countries has obvious random volatility characteristics. 3) In the medium term, there is a three-dimensional inverted “V” shaped relationship between income inequality and carbon emissions across quantiles in the United States. As mentioned for France, on the contrary, a three-dimensional “V” shaped relationship across quantiles exists. 4) In the long run, the relationship between income inequality and carbon emissions in the United States is “V” shaped across quantiles. Carbon emissions in France are mainly inhibited by domestic income inequality. According to the empirical results, we recommend that the governments should make greater efforts to ensure the synergy between income distribution and environmental governance to ensure a sustainable and prudent development of economy.

Geothermal energy development roadmap of Taiwan by play fairway analysis

Following the 2015 Paris Agreement dealing with the mitigation of global warming, the government and people of Taiwan have expressed their environmental awareness by accelerating the ongoing effort of substituting fossil-fuel power with green energy forms. With the deadline for promised energy policies approaching, more action is required of the geothermal option despite its high exploration cost and uncertainty issues.The Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) is an excellent low-cost decision-making tool with a quantitative approach and the capability to combine multiple factors from limited data sources and provide stakeholders a probability assessment in the early stage of the geothermal exploration. It can construct a prudent development roadmap combining geological elements alongside socioeconomic data in place.Considering the local aspects of the geological setting in metamorphic rocks and an active orogenic mountain belt uplift environment, the study adapts the PFA methodology using relevant data in geochemistry, geophysics, and geographies to depict the key geothermal factors in heat sources and fractural pathways. Existing elements available for analysis include (1) temperature of hot springs, silica geothermometry, and surface uplift rates for heat sources, and (2) active fault lines, shallow micro-earthquakes, dilatation strain rates, and elevation variation for fractural pathway. For pragmatic consideration, we choose population density and national parks to represent added human factors in this study to cover constrains such as operating cost, supply needs, regulations, and the like.Through normalizing and weighting processes from the ArcGIS platform, the resulting composite map, confirmed with previous research reports, displays the calculated values on each grid cell over the research area in an easy-to-read format. We present three suggested prospects labelled in this realistic map of potential geothermal distribution across Taiwan as candidates for the next phase of geothermal development projects as part of the long push to achieve our nation's green energy goals.

Ecosystem Services Dynamics in Bogor Regency

The decline in the quality of ecosystem services in Bogor Regency is indicated by the existence of various natural disasters in recent years. Prudent development must be carried out to minimize the impact of a decrease in the ecosystem services index. The purpose of this research is to map ecosystem services for food supply, water supply, water and flood management, and tourism aspects within 2000-2017. The data used were land cover and land facet maps at a scale of 1:25,000 obtained from BIG, accompanied by a reinterpretation process. The data sources were Indonesia's topographic maps (RBI), Citra SPOT 7, DEMNAS, and field surveys. The ecosystem services index (ESI) is calculated based on an analysis of changes in land use and land facets. The value of ESI was weighted using analytic hierarchy process approaches to each of the variables assessed by experts. The results showed that the largest changes in land use occurred in residential and forest areas. The residential area increased by 1.96%, while the forest area decreased by 1.8% in 17 years. Bogor Regency is dominated by forest and rice fields which are spread over four main landforms, namely volcanic, structural, fluvial, and karst. The most significant increase of 5.65% was found in the clean water provisioning function, while the most significant decrease of 38.47% was found in the tourism and ecotourism sector. Accumulatively, the increase in ESI was 23%, while the decrease was 20.64%. Mitigation efforts that can be done are to maintain the availability of green open space by implementing strong regulations.

Effective Pre-Migration Mechanism for Dynamic Load Balancing In Cloud Computing Environment

The effect of cloud computing has a huge preferences over all areas. The virtualization strategies made it conceivable to scale in all zones. This prompts the budgetary and prudent development in all nations. The clients frequently demand the cloud datacenters and workers for their cycle. It makes weighty traffic in both cloud worker and server farm. This weighty traffic prompts load imbalancing and furthermore the unpredicted disappointments may prompt execution debasement. Certain precautionary measures must be taken care of to distinguish the virtual machine disappointment. Anticipating the virtual machine disappointment is troublesome along these lines; our proposed work amasses in appropriate booking of the cloudlets thinking about the heap in the virtual machine. On the off chance that any chance of burden imbalancing happens when after the cloudlet is booked at that point utilizing pre movement calculation, the cloudlets are moved to another virtual machine. This paper joins the heap adjusting system with pre movement calculation for planning the cloudlet. The proposed work is actualized in the cloudsim in addition to apparatus.

The evolution of substrate discrimination in macrolide antibiotic resistance enzymes

The production of antibiotics by microbes in the environment and their use in medicine and agriculture select for existing and emerging resistance. To address this inevitability, prudent development of antibiotic drugs requires careful consideration of resistance evolution. Here, we identify the molecular basis for expanded substrate specificity in MphI, a macrolide kinase (Mph) that does not confer resistance to erythromycin, in contrast to other known Mphs. Using a combination of phylogenetics, drug-resistance phenotypes, and in vitro enzyme assays, we find that MphI and MphK phosphorylate erythromycin poorly resulting in an antibiotic-sensitive phenotype. Using likelihood reconstruction of ancestral sequences and site-saturation combinatorial mutagenesis, supported by Mph crystal structures, we determine that two non-obvious mutations in combination expand the substrate range. This approach should be applicable for studying the functional evolution of any antibiotic resistance enzyme and for evaluating the evolvability of resistance enzymes to new generations of antibiotic scaffolds.

Wybrane problemy roztropnego rozwoju cyfrowej polski

Wybrane problemy roztropnego rozwoju cyfrowej polski

Research on Countermeasures for Sustainable Development of Small Loan Companies in China

Recent years, financing difficulty has become one of the problems which constrain the development of three issues (related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers) and MSE (Micro and Small Enterprises) in China. The creation of small loan companies has satisfied the needs of financing for SME (Small and Medium Enterprises) and individuals to some extent and has brought vitality for marginalized rural finance. However, it has only been a relatively short period since the small loan companies started up with immature operation model; many problems arise in the development process of small loan companies. The paper starts from exploration of existing problems during the development process and proposes some countermeasures for these problems so as to create fine external environment, enhance their internal constructions as well and ensure sustainable and prudent development of small loan companies.

Stakeholder Issues Play Key Role in Shale Future

Stakeholder Engagement As the shale revolution changes the map of oil and natural gas development and shifts the balance of production between regions, public acceptance is an increasing challenge. The unconventional resource boom has brought intensive drilling and production operations to areas often unaccustomed to these activities and frequently more populous than traditional petroleum development areas. A variety of public concerns have assumed a high profile, including the environmental issues of water use; perceived risk to groundwater aquifers; waste disposal; truck traffic, dust, and noise; and emissions. While the success of production from shales and other tight-rock formations draws attention nationally and globally, its future depends much on the attention and reception it receives locally. As shale drilling has surged, public eyes may be more focused on the community impacts of oil and gas operations than ever before. Some jurisdictions have imposed moratoria or even bans on the use of hydraulic fracturing, which is an essential component of the success of shale development. The risk of similar measures and additional restrictions spreading to other areas is real. There is increasing industry recognition of the need to reach out to communities, share information, and listen to stakeholders. Enactments such as fracturing moratoria and bans are “the single thing that can stymie more development in these unconventional resource plays,” said Clay Bretches, chief executive officer of Sendero Midstream. Formerly vice president of E&P services and minerals at Anadarko, Bretches chaired the coordinating subcommittee of the North American Resource Development Study for the National Petroleum Council’s (NPC’s) report, “Prudent Development— Realizing the Potential of North America’s Abundant Natural Gas and Oil Resources,” presented to the United States Secretary of Energy in September 2011. For the industry, Bretches and others said, sustainable success in field development demands an increased willingness and ability to engage all stakeholders, including communities and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and a variety of industry-related bodies. This is in addition to higher levels of government that are customarily involved. The need for increased stakeholder engagement was emphasized in the “Prudent Development” report.

Effects of engineered cerium oxide nanoparticles on bacterial growth and viability.

Interest in engineered nanostructures has risen in recent years due to their use in energy conservation strategies and biomedicine. To ensure prudent development and use of nanomaterials, the fate and effects of such engineered structures on the environment should be understood. Interactions of nanomaterials with environmental microorganisms are inevitable, but the general consequences of such interactions remain unclear, due to a lack of standard methods for assessing such interactions. Therefore, we have initiated a multianalytical approach to understand the interactions of synthesized nanoparticles with bacterial systems. These efforts are focused initially on cerium oxide nanoparticles and model bacteria in order to evaluate characterization procedures and the possible fate of such materials in the environment. The growth and viability of the Gram-negative species Escherichia coli and Shewanella oneidensis, a metal-reducing bacterium, and the Gram-positive species Bacillus subtilis were examined relative to cerium oxide particle size, growth media, pH, and dosage. A hydrothermal synthesis approach was used to prepare cerium oxide nanoparticles of defined sizes in order to eliminate complications originating from the use of organic solvents and surfactants. Bactericidal effects were determined from MIC and CFU measurements, disk diffusion tests, and live/dead assays. For E. coli and B. subtilis, clear strain- and size-dependent inhibition was observed, whereas S. oneidensis appeared to be unaffected by the particles. Transmission electron microscopy along with microarray-based transcriptional profiling was used to understand the response mechanism of the bacteria. Use of multiple analytical approaches adds confidence to toxicity assessments, while the use of different bacterial systems highlights the potential wide-ranging effects of nanomaterial interactions in the environment.

Assessment of Regeneration Projects in Urban Areas of Environmental Interest: A Stated Choice Approach to Estimate Use and Quasi-Option Values

We adopt an attribute-based stated choice approach to evaluate public preferences over planning alternatives for an urban site of environmental interest. Since such projects involve some uncertainty and irreversibility, special attention is devoted to the estimation of quasi-option values associated with project development. Two distinct measures for the quasi-option value are estimated, and both coefficients indicate that the public place significant value on the reduction of the possibility of adverse irreversible effects: a more prudent development strategy is valued at about four times greater than a procedure that provides a greater chance of an undesired outcome. Furthermore, the study involves elicitation of intertemporal preferences over projects with different time spans, and estimation of the implicit discount rates: the values obtained seem high if compared with standard discount rates applied to public projects, but not far from interest rates on consumption found in the market.

Techbits: Sustainable Development of Natural Gas Explored in Trinidad

Techbits SPE's Applied Technology Workshop (ATW) titled "Natural Gas: Development in a Sustainable Manner" and held earlier this year in Port of Spain, Trinidad, served as a catalyst for discussions about the prudent development and use of the natural-gas resources of Trinidad and Tobago. Sustainable development, defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, was at the forefront of each session of the workshop. Presenters shared both local and international experiences on a variety of topics across the natural-gas value chain, from upstream to downstream, and highlighted sustainable solutions for long-term development of the resource. Growing Global Gas Demand BHP Billiton's Nigel Sookdeo, cochair of the ATW's technical program, began with an overview of the importance of natural gas, stressing that it will continue to be a key energy source for the downstream industrial sector and power generation for decades to come. He pointed to estimates from the US Department of Energy and others that natural-gas demand is expected to increase from its present rate of 106 to 158 Tcf per annum by 2030—an average increase of 2% per year. This demand growth is partially tied to the relative cleanliness of natural gas vs. other fossil fuels in terms of lower CO2 emissions—a factor that is expected to become more important for regulatory agencies charged with enforcing ever-stricter standards for greenhouse-gas emissions. For Trinidad and Tobago, natural-gas production is at approximately 4 Bcf/D, which is 85% of the country's daily BOE production and makes it the world's 20th-largest gas producer. Gas and the rest of the upstream sector generate up to 55% of the country's revenue in the form of petroleum taxation. The country has monetized its vast gas resource by developing a large downstream petrochemical sector in the form of feedstock for local petrochemical and power plants, and for liquefied-natural-gas (LNG) export. Trinidad and Tobago is now one of the largest producers of methanol and ammonia, and the fifth-largest exporter of LNG. In terms of local consumption, approximately 60% of the total natural gas produced is used for LNG production and export, and 15% each for ammonia and methanol manufacture. Despite the global financial crisis of the past year, further expansion of the downstream petrochemical sector is planned—including new plants for aluminum, gas to liquids, polyethylene, and polypropylene—all requiring natural gas as a feedstock and fuel source. The projected increase in demand is forecast at 550 MMscf/D, which translates to a reserves replacement of 1.5 Tcf required annually to feed this demand. Recent reserves replacement has been on average only 0.75 Tcf per annum.

American Energy Policy

With less than 2.5 percent of the world's discovered oil reserves, the United States has climbed to third place among oil-producing countries, after Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation.1 The US consumes 24 percent of the world's oil production, at a rate of 20.7 million barrels per day. In 2007, the US imported close to 14 mb/d, more than 66 percent of its oil consumption. This dependency, one that all recent American presidents have denounced in vain, could increase even more in the future. Under these conditions, Washington presents itself with only two choices: reduce consumption or increase domestic production. American production has been on the decline for several decades, however, and Washington has made substantial efforts to obtain everything it can from abroad. Consumption, meanwhile, is both a function of the country's economic growth and of its motorized population.TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHESUS consumption of primary energy resources has risen along with its resort to combustible fossil fuels, the latter a major source of pollution. The fundamental problem that the United States (as well as the rest of the world) must solve is the pursuit of economic development while instituting efficient practices in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The difficult nature of such economic and ecologic questions led the two presidential candidates to take different positions in the November 2008 election, thus making energy policy and energy independence key issues in the campaign.The Republican candidate, Arizona Senator John McCain, distanced himself from the positions taken by the incumbent Republican president, especially with regard to the question of climate change. But in general, McCain supported the traditional Republican credo: reducing the country's energy dependence, opening the continental shelf and the Arctic (apart from a limited protected zone) to exploration and the exploitation of hydrocarbons, and intervening as little as possible in the free market (i.e., not supporting subsidies or fiscal policies towards the development of renewable energy). Barack Obama, on the other hand, proposed government intervention for the development of renewable energy and the prudent development of nuclear energy. Above all else, the Democratic candidate pledged to better integrate energy and environmental protection policies.TWO DISTINCT PHILOSOPHIES?That said, two distinct opposing economic philosophies present themselves here. The Democratic party has always put forward a policy of clear state intervention that seeks to orient the government's actions in favour of welldefined social priorities and environmentally friendly industrial policies. The Democrats also encourage industries to reorient themselves towards greater energy efficiency and to reduce their dependence on combustible fossil fuels. On the other hand, the Republican party has been and remains a strong ally of economic growth in the domain of big business and a tenacious defender of the free market, or the invisible hand, which is seen to be capable of regulating supply and demand in the markets without government intervention.THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT ENERGY LAWSIn the past two decades, two important laws made their mark on the evolution of American energy policy: the energy policy acts of 1992 and 2005.2 It is ironic to note that these two energy laws were passed by Republican presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. What is more is that in the case of the former, both houses of congress were controlled by the Democrats. If, during the 70s and 80s, the US centred itself on economic and energy security, the debate transformed little by little into one about energy and the environment in the 90s. The 1990s also brought about discussions on energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy.As Paul L. Joskow argues, the 1992 energy act formed the basis of the Clinton administration's energy policy, which was also influenced by the Democratic administration's concern for the environment, as reflected in its emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable energies and its stated intentions to move away from coal and nuclear energy. …

A Choice Modelling Approach for Assessment of Use and Quasi-Option Values in Urban Planning for Areas of Environmental Interest

This study adopts a discrete choice modelling methodology to evaluate individuals’ preferences over planning alternatives for an urban site of environmental interest. Since such projects involve some uncertainty and irreversibility, a special attention is devoted to the estimation of the quasi-option values which are associated to project development. Two distinct measures for the quasi-option value are estimated, and both coefficients indicate that the public places a significant value on reduction of the possibility of adverse irreversible effects: a more prudent development strategy is valued about four times more than a procedure that provides a lesser hedge against undesired outcomes. Furthermore, the study involved elicitation of intertemporal preferences over projects with different time spans, and estimation of the implicit discount rates: the values obtained seem high if compared to standard discount rates applied to public projects, but not far from current interest rates on consumption.

Comments: Russian Transition

With sizable oil reserves and the world's largest gas reserves, Russia undoubtedly will play a critical role in how well the oil and gas industry meets future demand. The country made a significant contribution in the first half of this decade when global demand, primarily from China, put increasing pressure on suppliers, lifting oil prices to nominal record territory. Some estimates credit Russia with supplying up to 40% of the incremental global demand that has occurred since 2000. The Russian oil and gas industry is in transition, technically and politically. For the past decade, emphasis has been placed on activating idle wells and optimization. Workovers and applying advanced technology to existing wells will continue to be important, but attention is now turning to finding and developing new reserves. Many of these are in hostile and remote conditions, such as in eastern Siberia, offshore Sakhalin and the Barents Sea, and Timan Pechora, which has proved reserves estimated at 8 billion bbl. That shift means new investment and new technology. Needed are advanced seismic imaging, platforms that can be used in heavy ice, undersea pipelines, and the latest drilling techniques. SPE's first Russian Oil and Gas Technical Conference and Exhibition, to be held 3–6 October in Moscow, will cover those aspects of industry development and numerous technical disciplines in the 4-day event (see article, p. 38). Particular emphasis will be devoted to technology applications and exchange. Russian oil production slowed last year, following strong growth of 11% and 9% in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The slowdown came from more stringent tax policy and the government's breakup of oil giant Yukos. Both underscore the government's increasingly active oversight of the energy industry, which Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the "holy of holies" of the country's economy. Yukos, once Russia's biggest oil company, was decimated by prosecutions and government orders to repay billions of dollars in back taxes. Yukos' founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky is now serving an 8-year prison sentence in Chita in eastern Siberia for fraud and tax evasion, a conviction some claim was politically motivated. Rosneft acquired Yukos' assets and now has risen to become the second-largest oil company in the country behind Lukoil. In an interview with JPT 3 years ago, Khodorkovsky stressed the importance of a stable tax regime and energy policy in attracting foreign investment and improving Russia's oil industry. Government policy on oil is still in flux but could be decided this summer. In June, the Parliament began discussing a draft law on subsoil resources that would ban companies in which foreigners own more than 49% from securing development rights in "strategic" fields. The new law likely would increase the dominance of state-owned energy firms such as Gazprom and Rosneft and encourage international oil companies to partner with Russian firms. Even with those restrictions, Russian oil policy would be more open than in some large-producing countries. Consuming countries think of energy security in terms of security of supply. But for large-scale producers, such as Russia, energy security means prudent development of state resources, getting a fair return from the exploitation of those resources, and security of demand. Although Russia needs western technology to remain one of the world's major producers and exporters, the question for foreign oil companies is not whether they can afford to be in Russia but whether they can afford not to.

Lessons from Singapore: A rejoinder

T he ivory tower academic strikes again! As I eagerly opened the pages of the MayJune 1989 issue of Business Horizons--indeed, one of my favorite business journals--I was aghast at the liberties the editor, Dr. Harvey C, Bunke, had taken in extolling the virtues of Singapore, my homeland. Still, as a free (I will explain this later), I can only rejoice at the fact that here in America, even sweeping generalizations, dubious analyses, and flimsy hypotheses can find their way into print. Dr. Bunke has stumbled into the kind of error that all students pursuing the higher reaches of learning are forewarned against-that is, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. With all due Confucian respect, Dr. Bunke, the arguments you advance can bear neither academic nor even lay scrutiny. Your analysis of is akin to that of the fly that sweeps down atop a dunghill (of which there are plenty in Southeast Asia, as well as in rural America) and thinks has found the answer to the world's food shortage problems. It is a case of fallacious premising ending up, nonetheless, with an essentially correct observation. Let me explain. Granted, has achieved remarkable heights of economic progress. Your thesis correctly attests to Singapore's undeniable achievements. Your testimony to the phenomenal ly successAfl public housing program, the efficient transportation facilities, an incorruptible administration, and the general successes prudent development policies have chalked up is beyond cavil. But your premise that Singapore's success is attributable to Confucian ethics is, to say the least, specious in the extreme. Rooted in the of the East, your article claims, it suffers little from crime, drug problems, homelessness, begging, unemployment , or mental depression. Dr. Bunke, how do you explain the rampant corruption in Indonesia and the Philippines which you yourself mention? Or that which exists in China itself, where Confucianism was born? Or the Recruit scandal that has so badly shaken public confidence in the integrity of the government of that supreme model of Asian development, Japan? What of the pervasive destitution, unemployment, and underemployment infesting so many Eastern societies, despite the rich cultural traditions they can boast of?. Is the sole purveyor of this non sequitur you call the ethic of the East? It must be understood that ethics is not and never was the sole prerogative of the East. What is so lacking in the Protestant ethic, which lays an equal emphasis on the same virtues of diligence, industry, and thrift that Confucianism upholds? Singapore's success cannot be so neatly categorized and labeled as Confucian. Throughout your article you quote several statements of Singaporeans that to me appear to be the type of propagandist pronouncements which choke the airwaves of the state-controlled Broadcasting Corporation and the columns of the press -be t te r known as the purveyor of Orwellian Newspeak in its incarnation. These hectoring statements you quote smack of smug self-righteousness and conceit, which happen to be quite uncharacteristic of Confucian humility. We would never let our family members be homeless. You Americans are so selfish, is one such fatuous quote. The young U.S.-educated Singaporian [sic] who said this is obviously an avid reader of the local Straits Times. It seems to me, Dr. Bunke, that either you did not sufficiently immerse yourself in the Singaporean ethic, or your conversations were confined to those Singaporeans who habitually spout the party line. I am by no means waving the American flag myself. As I said earlier, I am a Singaporean. Nor am I attempting a total denigration of my own country. But I do take exception to misleading generalizations and half-truths. As you stated quite clearly towards the end of your article, Singapore is not the Bravo! That saved your article somewhat. But let me make an equally profound statement: The U.S. is not Sin-

Upper Cretaceous Stratigraphy in Hunter Wash Area, San Juan Basin, New Mexico: ABSTRACT

The Bisti Fruitland area contains about 1,870 million tons of subbituminous low-sulfur coal beneath less than 250 ft (76.2 m) of overburden and is the largest undeveloped reserve in the San Juan basin. To aid prudent development of these resources intensive field investigations of the depositional environments of the strata were undertaken east and southeast of the old Bisti Trading Post. Seventeen measured sections were made in the vicinity of Hunter Wash. The stratigraphic sequence exposed consists of interbedded shales, siltstones, channel sandstones, and coals. Coals are more prominent in the lower part of the sequence. Correlations were facilitated by the presence of a prominent, medium-grained, reddish-brown sandstone. The usefulness of coals for correlation in the study area has not been demonstrated. The included sequence contains the Fruitland-Kirtland contact with most of the strata in the Fruitland Formation. This contact is approximately 200 ft (61 m) lower in elevation than the Pictured Cliffs Sandstone-Fruitland Formation contact about 5 mi (8 km) southeast. There are possible correlations of the rocks in this area with those of the fossil forest near the Split Lip Flats on the southeast. End_of_Article - Last_Page 561------------